Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16581, Nicholas French, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
French, Nicholas Rachel
W 16581
CONTENTS

Rep?
1722, New Hampshire, Concord Rachel French
widow of Nicholas French who was a Private in the Revolution Mass
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 d day of September 1843 and sent to P. Dodge Amherst, N.H.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 16.

Marriage Certificate

An Extract from the Record of Marriages for the Town of Billerica, County of Middlesex and Com- monwealth of Massachusetts-
"Nicholas French & Rachel Farmer both of Billerica married by Rev. d Henry Cummings" September the twenty eighth, one thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy nine.
I, the Subscriber, hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the Record in fair legible figures as follows, viz
"Sept r 28. 1779"
Marshall Preston { Clerk of the said Town of Billerica
I Marshall Preston above named, depose & say that I hold the Office of Clerk in the said Town of Billerica, County & Commonwealth aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of marriages of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me
Marshall Preston. { Town Clerk of said Billerica,
Middlesex ss- June 26 th A.D. 1839
Sworn before me
John Baldwin Jus. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office Boston September 5. 1839-
I hereby certify that the within named John Baldwin, was at the date of his Attestation a justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex in this Commonwealth.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the date above written.
John P. Briggs Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Isaac French of Wallis in the County of Hillsborough & State of New-Hampshire eighty seven years of age, testify & say, that Nicholas French a brother of mine enlisted as a private in the Army of the Revolution in 1775 at Belaria in Massachusetts for eight months and was stationed at Cambridge in the last named State - but I cannot recollect the name of any of his officers. I was at Cambridge as a private two months of the time of my brother's enlistment - I was in Capt. Noah Warren's Company - My brother enlisted again in 1776 for one year as I believe, he served at New-York a part of the time - I was also in the same service about three months - I was in Capt. Wm. Reed's Company, but I cannot recollect the name of my brother's Capt. or of the Col. of the Regiment, to which his Company was attached - My brother Nicholas has been dead many years, having left a widow - Isaac French
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. } July 4 th 1839. Then the above named Isaac French, whom I certify to be a credible witness, personally appeared & made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true -
Before me - Benjamin M. Farley Jus. of the Peace
State of New Hampshire } set. Hillsborough County }
I, Andrew Wallace clerk of the Superior Court of Justice of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benjamin M. Farley is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the twenty seventh day of June 1835, and will expire on the twenty seventh day of June 1840, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County this fifth day of July 1839.
A. Wallace clerk

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury is an acting Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the county of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified: that his Commission was dated on the first day of January 18 70 and will expire on the 26 th day of January 18 71 and that his signature in the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 22 day of August 18 70
Josiah Stevens Jr. Secretary of State.

I Nicholas French depose and say that I am the son of Nicholas French late of Monimac in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire that my father the said Nicholas died at said Monimac on the twenty first day of July in the year eighteen hundred and twenty three I was present and saw him die, and my mother Rachael French wife of said Nicholas has remained a widow, ever since.
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. I swear to and subscribed August 21. 1839 before me.
Luther Woodbury Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the aforesaid Nicholas French the deponent is in my belief a credible witness.
Luther Woodbury Justice of the peace
I Hannah Larabee depose and say that I have examined and heard read the foregoing affidavit of Nicholas French and know the facts therein stated to be true.
Hannah Larabee
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. August 21. 1839 sworn to and subscribed before me.
Luther Woodbury Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the aforesaid Hannah Larabee is according to my last knowledge and belief a credible witness.
Luther Woodbury Justice of the peace

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Hillsborough duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 2 day of December 1835 and will expire on the 2 day of December 1840 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 22 day of
August 1839
Josiah Stevens Secretary of State.

N 76. 6065
Rachel French widow of Nicholas. Act 1838 —
(over)

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss On this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before me Luke Woodbury Judge of the Court of Probate of Wills &c within and for said County Rachael French a resident of Manchester in said County of Hillsborough aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 intitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Nicholas French who according to her best knowledge and belief on the nineteenth of April 1775 turned out as a volunteer from Biloxie in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Ebenezer Bridge who was afterwards made Colonel and he was attached to Jonathan Starks company in said Bridges Regiment and that he served eight months at this time that he served as a drummer and in the Revolutionary army. That it is also her belief that he served in the Revolutionary Army twenty two months in the whole as she has frequently heard him say that he did, but that she cannot state the names of the officers under whom he served at any other period than the above. That she has no documentary evidence to show his services but trusts that by reference to the records in the Pension Department that the whole service may be proved.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nicholas French on the twenty eighth day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and
(over)

Twenty nine, that her husband the aforesaid Nicholas French died on the twenty first day of July in the year eighteen hundred and twenty three, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January nineteen hundred and ninety four viz. at the time above stated.
Witness to mark Daniel Lomabee Israel W. Kelly
Rachael her X French mark
I sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written at said residence before me,
Levi Woodbury Judge as aforesaid.
I hereby certify that the cause of taking and executing the foregoing declaration, at the present time, and of Court is, that the said Rachael French, the affiant is in my belief, from bodily infirmities unable to attend Court without serious inconvenience and exposure of her health.
Levi Woodbury Judge as aforesaid.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR. Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Amos Flint is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Hillsborough duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 30 th day of June 1837 and will expire on the 30 th day of June 1842 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 22 day of August 1839
Josiah Stevens Secretary of State.

I Daniel Killam of of Framingham Hillsborough in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire aged over eighty three years depose & say that, in the year 1775 I resided in Billerica Massachusetts, & well acquainted with Nicholas French of said Billerica, and well recollect that the said Nicholas French turned out on the 19th of April 1775 with others of which number I was one, and marched to meet the British Regulars at Concord Massachusetts, we put ourselves under the command of Ebenezer Bridge. we followed them through Lincoln to Lexington & then to Cambridge. We were there organized into Companies & Regiments, and the aforesaid Ebenezer Bridge made Col of the Regiment, and Jonathan Stickney was Capt. of the company to which Nicholas French was attached & was a drummer in the company, and it is my belief that he served out the eight months campaign as a drummer in Capt. Stickney's in Col Bridge's Regt -
I also know that the same Nicholas French married Rachel Fanner of Billerica aforesaid.
The above service was performed by the said French in the Revolutionary War.
The word - Postmaster - was erased - and the word - which - substituted before signed & sworn to -
Daniel Killam
State of New Hampshire. Hillsborough ss. June 7 th 1827
Personally appeared the above named Daniel Killam who is well known to me to be a credible witness, and made oath, that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence was true.
Abiah Root, Jr. Rev.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16581
Rachel French Wid of Nicholas French Prio Rev War
Act: March 3 d  183
Index:—Vol. A , Page 254
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5004 New Hampshire
Rachel French, a n n widow of Nicholas French, decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of — — — and who died on the 21 st July — 1823 — of Hillsboro' (in the State of N. H.) who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Bridge — of the — commanded by — in the Mass. Militia. line for 8 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of Feb'y 1840, by Secretary Horatio H. Pierce Heads, U. States.
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept 1839 $ 93.33 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 40 13.33
$ 106.66
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by  J. M. Curdy  Clerk, Book  A.  Vol.  1.  Page

2033 Rachel French Application
$26.66 per am
P. Dodge Amherst N. H.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3 d March 1843. granting pensions for one year to certain Widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7 th 1838.
State of New Hampshire
County of Hillsborough ss.
On this thirteenth day of June 1843. Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the Peace in and for said County of Hillsborough Rebecka French a resident of Merimack in the County of Hillsborough aforesaid aged Eighty five years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 d March 1843. granting Pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War; That she is the widow of Nicholas French who was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution. The officers under whom he served and the times and places of service, will be found by referring to my application for a pension under the act of July 7 th 1838. now in the Pension office at Washington City. That under said last mentioned act she drew a pension of Twenty six Dollars and sixty six cents to the best of her recollection. She further declares that she is still a Widow.
Witness Nat. Lee French
Hannah her French
Charles Dutton
mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.
Before me. Peleg Dodge Justice of the Peace.

I certify that the within named Rachel Green is personally known to me and that she is a credible person and that I have no doubt her statement within much is true Newport June 13 1843
Richard D. Dorr Jr. Pastor

State of New Hampshire Hillsborough County Set. I, Percy D. Dage, clerk of the Superior Court of Justice of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Percy Dage is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 14 th day of June 1842, and will ex- pire on the 13 th day of June 1847 and that his signature has been written genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County this 13 th day of June 1843. Percy Dage Clerk,

Joseph Davis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November 9. 1838.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of his attestation, Marshall Preston Esq re was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex; _____ in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John C. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Joseph Dows of Billerica in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Seventy nine years of age, an United States Pensioner on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with one Nicholas French, formerly of said Billerica, who married one Rachel Farnum of Billerica and afterwards moved into the Country in the State of New Hampshire. — I further state that I well know that said Nicholas French was in the Eight months service at Cambridge in the year, 1775, from this circumstance. I had a Brother in said service and having an occasion to go to Cambridge to visit my Brother, I saw said French, in the capacity of a soldier, — and according to the best of my recollection he belonged to the same company with my Brother aforesaid. I well recollect that he messed at the same hour with my Brother. —
Question by the Magistrate. — At what time did you go to visit your Brother as you have above stated? Answer. — I should think it was about the first of September of the year 1775, it was about the beginning of the Fall. —
For the above Deposition said as such. —
Joseph Dows
Middlesex ss — November 1 st 1838. — Then personally appeared the above named Joseph Dows, with

whom I am well acquainted and whose testimony is entitled to full credit and belief and being duly cautioned to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, made oath to the truth of the foregoing dep- -osition by him subscribed
Before me Marshall Presler Jas of the Rev

Landgrave W. Richey
Salzburg
(A. H.)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, December 28 1839.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Nicholas French is borne as a private on a list of Captain Jonathan Hooker's Company, Bridge's Regiment. The list is dated Cambridge. September 25 th 1775. It does not state any term of service of the individuals whose names are borne therein, nor their period of enlistment.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

2033 June 16 1843 N.H. Mar 3 1843.
H. McClure for H. French
Free
J. L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington City.

Amherst June 13 th 1843.
J. L. Edwards Esq
In closed are the papers of Rachel French and Hannah M c , Blum for a prison —
Please communicate with me at Amherst New Hampshire on the subject —
Yours truly P. Dorr

Hon J. L. Edwards
Map sill,

Salisbury N. H. Aug. 21 st 1839-
Sir,
With this you will receive the papers in the application of Rachel French, widow of Nicholas French Esq. for a five years pension, under the Act of 1830.
The service of her late husband, as a drummer, in the campaign of 1775, is supposed to be well established for the remainder of the service, to make up the twenty two months, which she believes her husband served, she has not been able to obtain any proof, other than what may be inferred from the affidavit of his brother (Isaac French) taken by Benj o M. Farley Esq.
An examination of the rolls for service at White Plains in 1776, is desired, in aid of her claim, both in the New Hampshire & Massachusetts lines, if the name of Nicholas French is found on either, she may be entitled for whatever the service may be.

Should anything further be required, address me & it shall receive due attention.
With much respect. Your obed Servt -
Israel W. Kelly
Genl J. L. Edwards Commr Persian Washington. D. C.

Have L. Edward

Salisbury N. H. Dec 31 st . 1839-
Sir:
In compliance with the directions in yours of Oct r 29 th (last) I now forward the Certificate from the Secy. of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which that Nicholas French was a private in a Comp y . commanded by Capt s Jonathan Stickney, in Bridges Reg t . in 1775-
It will be recollect d that Daniel Killam testifies, that French was a drummer - Also that he married Rachel Fawner -
Very respectfully Your obed t Serv t Israel W. Kelly
Hon J. L. D. D. D. Com r of Reserves Washington D. C.

6007 Rachel French
M th of Nicholas
MB
5004
At July 1838
Mamma 779
due 1823
Alma 8 m, pr
$21.11 pr am
M th M th M th
Cap B d Jr
Her F th P th
USS